Includes bibliographical references (p. 123) and index
Interviews, excerpts from diaries and letters, newspaper accounts, profiles of famous individuals, and pictures from family albums portray the heartache and joy of the Chinese American experience
The middle kingdom. Images of the homeland ; The decision to leave -- Voyage to America. Getting ready ; Saying good-bye ; Going to America -- Arrival in the land of the flowery flag. A first look at America ; Angel Island ; The poems of Angel Island ; The grilling of a "paper son" ; "Everybody... had a split personality" -- A new life. The Gold Rush ; Pioneers ; The railroad builders ; "The Chinese must go" -- Putting down roots. The first Chinatown ; Chinatown U.S.A. ; The bachelor society ; Strength through groups ; Family ; The Chinese laundry ; Restaurants ; Ties to the homeland -- Part of America. Sweatshops and high tech ; Making it ; Becoming Americans ; Celebrations ; The Lee family -- Chinese American timeline